Marc Abraham: “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country."
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Ig Nobels ceremony moves to Europe over security concerns
- Thread starter JournalBot
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It's crazy to see how a century of soft power is destroyed in just a couple of years
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The causes of the fall of an empire are always decades in the making, but when the actual fall starts and it becomes obvious what's happening it's very fast
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I work in Higher Ed at a Canadian University. Last year I had to go through a process for setting up Loaner laptops for people who were traveling to the USA for Conferences etc. Multiple laptops were set up, basically blank slate ( Just Windows and Office set up with a shared license ). Drives were not encrypted so the border security were to have no problems searching it. Users were only to log in to use the laptop once they got to their destination so there was nothing on it to search at the border.
They got plenty of use last year because a lot stuff they would be traveling for couldn't be put on a video conference or couldn't be rescheduled. This year ( probably since December ) I haven't had a single request, people have both completely stopped going or are traveling electronics free.
They got plenty of use last year because a lot stuff they would be traveling for couldn't be put on a video conference or couldn't be rescheduled. This year ( probably since December ) I haven't had a single request, people have both completely stopped going or are traveling electronics free.
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I knew we could take the crown for xenophobia if we just kept our heads down, detained anyone for any reason, illegally transported (illegally, remember) detained people, and threw in the occasional state sanctioned murder from time to time.
Well done, USA. We're really winning.
Well done, USA. We're really winning.
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Every country has a certain percentage of its population that believes that respect is best earned through fear and intimidation. Ideally, those in a position of leadership should know better. The current US administration is basically the equivalent of society’s Id calling the shots.
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seek helpOMG it's not safe! Let's just manage at other luxurious locations
If parody of Nobel prize is not safe, it is over for 'Murica.
Victim Olympics in full force
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Similarly NDSS, one of the four A* security conference, which had always been in San Diego, as far as I remember, will be hosted in The Hague this year (of all possible European cities, it is an interesting choice).
(And CCS, the other top conference that was moving around is not in the US in 2026).
This leaves IEEE S&P and Usenix Security that are still in California, for now.
(And CCS, the other top conference that was moving around is not in the US in 2026).
This leaves IEEE S&P and Usenix Security that are still in California, for now.
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Trump did a fair amount of damage his first term, but Biden was fixing a lot of that and restoring a lot of that trust. Then we re-elected Trump, and he's so much worse this time around, because he hired incompetent cronies that actively want to implement the destructive Project 2025 playbook, and a lot of countries are now realizing a country that's only 4 years away from possibly turning into a complete shitshow is not nearly stable to rely on, let alone that this administration is so fickle and unpredictable and reliable, with things like tariffs changing on a day to day basis based on the whims of an extremely evil and stupid madman.
If we can wrestle this country back from the reigns of these evil fascists, we're going to have to implement a lot of new laws, and possibly Constitutional amendments, to make sure a President can't run this fast and loose with the law ever again.
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From the article:
That is such a whimsical comparison, it's a perfect fit. Kudos to the organizers for taking the show on the road. I hope they continue to alternate venues in the future, even if some of them are returns to the US.
That is such a whimsical comparison, it's a perfect fit. Kudos to the organizers for taking the show on the road. I hope they continue to alternate venues in the future, even if some of them are returns to the US.
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I am not going to be surprised if many countries boycott the Los Angeles Olympics in a couple of years. It just keeps getting worse with this administration of buffoons
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Yea - there's no reason with the laws and Constitution in place to believe the United States will ever honor any international treaties, not suddenly become a fascist hellscape, or just randomly attack former allies.
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Well, yes. Quite.
We'll get back to you - maybe - once you've ousted the Orange Kiddie-Fiddler and his poisonous followers, but until then...well, we don't need you as much as you want us to.
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So many fellow Americans I know have been caught completely off guard by this fascistic fever and madness that has gripped the US.
With politics otherwise being fairly boring save the odd tan suit or unmanly ice cone eating, most people would be busy with their local reality spheres and be able to tune out.
They had no clue of this festering, infectious and noxious growth within society just waiting for the right time to flourish and time appeared with Trump, the pus avatar.
But you can take a straight line from Nixon to where we are now and seen it greatly expand its infestation during the Reagan and Obama years.
Those that were paying attention all along aren't surprised - especially the fascistic far right.
With politics otherwise being fairly boring save the odd tan suit or unmanly ice cone eating, most people would be busy with their local reality spheres and be able to tune out.
They had no clue of this festering, infectious and noxious growth within society just waiting for the right time to flourish and time appeared with Trump, the pus avatar.
But you can take a straight line from Nixon to where we are now and seen it greatly expand its infestation during the Reagan and Obama years.
Those that were paying attention all along aren't surprised - especially the fascistic far right.
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I suspect this isn't a one off. I am seeing a number of the international academic conferences coincidentally taking place outside of the United States. But there is no fanfare around it and no official announcements as to why so its speculative on an individual conference by conference basis.
But I look at something like the Goldschmidt conference. Its been oscillating between Europe (odd years) and the USA (even years) for decades now. Occasionally it pops out to Canada or Japan or Australia but for the most part the pattern sticks. So 2026 it is in Canada, (then to Paris for 2027) and then in 2028 its Japan. On its own maybe just coincidence but there are a lot of international conferences I keep tabs on that just happen to be anywhere but USA this round.
But I look at something like the Goldschmidt conference. Its been oscillating between Europe (odd years) and the USA (even years) for decades now. Occasionally it pops out to Canada or Japan or Australia but for the most part the pattern sticks. So 2026 it is in Canada, (then to Paris for 2027) and then in 2028 its Japan. On its own maybe just coincidence but there are a lot of international conferences I keep tabs on that just happen to be anywhere but USA this round.
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Yeah, most democracies understand that every so often things go sideways and you end up with a case of temporary governmental insanity (See also: Liz Truss' disastrous 50-day stint as UK Prime Minister), so when it happens the next administration can undo most of the engendered bad will by some well-chosen apologetic speeches and conciliatory gestures.
If a country decides, seemingly of their own free will, to put the lunatic back in charge again, then they can expect zero sympathy
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I don't have much hope that this is reversible. The people who have worked towards this day has been damaging the guardrails and democratic institutions for decades, and this administration is tearing them down so fast because of this pre-planning.
But if it can be stopped you are absolutely right about what it would take, and that too seems unlikely to happen.
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Let's cut down all the money trees, they are blocking our view!
And now the view is of a dumpster fire.
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Zürich, while certainly not dangerous, might have been the most expensive place I have ever traveled to for research. Food, lodging, drinks, even local public transit for visitors, are all eye-wateringly expensive.
(Quick nitpick: it would probably be more accurate to say that the University of Zürich is joining forces with the ETH Zürich, rather than the ETH Domain umbrella organization.)
(Quick nitpick: it would probably be more accurate to say that the University of Zürich is joining forces with the ETH Zürich, rather than the ETH Domain umbrella organization.)
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Yes, it's best to keep prize ceremonies and other conferences in civilized countries and away from Nazi territory.
But on the bright side, at least our public venues will now have more openings for tractor pulls, monster cars, gun shows, and WWE wrestling events.
But on the bright side, at least our public venues will now have more openings for tractor pulls, monster cars, gun shows, and WWE wrestling events.
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One of my colleagues carried such a blank-slate laptop to a conference in the US last year and was detained because the US Customs and Immigration folks thought that was 'suspicious'. Fortunately, she was released after only a few hours, but she was denied entry and missed the conference.
On a related note, I just received an email from organizers of a scientific conference that I've attended regularly for decades, but which I haven't attended recently because of the fascist takeover of the US government. This conference has been held in American cities every other year (alternating with European cities) for many decades, but apparently the attendance at the most recent meeting (hosted in Las Vegas) was abysmal. Even scientists working in the US are afraid to travel within the US, so almost nobody came. So the organizers are looking at alternating between Canada and Europe going forward.
It really is shocking how quickly America's leadership in science and technology is being destroyed. Apparently elections have consequences; who knew?
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ReadandShare
Ars Centurion
To 72 million American voters, the fall is not obvious at all. On the contrary, they still believe their president is Making America Great Again!
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Since about 40% of the USA’s electorate approve of Trump still, I think we are entitled to conclude that the case is much worse than that.
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The IgNobels also used a lot of local talent for the shows, from composers of parody songs to various performers who appeared every year. They also had the nice "have dinner with a Nobelist" contest. They're going to lose that Cambridge flavor! I wouldn't think that Zurich has the same pool of eccentrics, but maybe. There's no help for it, though, if they can't bring in winners from the very wide world of science.
The Boston Globe had a recent article on the many researchers who are leaving Massachusetts. Other countries are recruiting hard, especially Monash U in Melbourne Australia
The Boston Globe had a recent article on the many researchers who are leaving Massachusetts. Other countries are recruiting hard, especially Monash U in Melbourne Australia
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Oh, it is absolutely happening in my field. We are not counting with a substantial presence of overseas travelers and submissions are falling by 25-30%. And it is also sending people away: when speaking with an accent makes you a target, you are sending the message that people who are able should take their talents elsewhere.
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DaVuVuZeLa
Ars Tribunus Militum
This is such a nothingburger. We didn't want those nerds anyway.
-Some MAGAt (Probably)
-Some MAGAt (Probably)
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On one hand, I’m sad the igNobels are moving as I go most years.
On the other hand, Switzerland is an odd choice of safe harbor since they are about to vote to tighten rules on immigrants and cap their population at 10 million, with the codicil that at 10 million they automatically discard EU agreements and are allowed to mass deport non-Swiss residents.
On the other hand, Switzerland is an odd choice of safe harbor since they are about to vote to tighten rules on immigrants and cap their population at 10 million, with the codicil that at 10 million they automatically discard EU agreements and are allowed to mass deport non-Swiss residents.
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